Meet Dr. Karina Menali

Doctor, Healer, Teacher
Owner Kai Wellness, DACM, DOM, Dipl.OM, L.Ac., CIAYT, E-RYT500

Dr. Karina is known for her deep presence, compassion, and intuitive understanding of the people she works with. She’s someone both patients and colleagues trust—not just for her knowledge, but for the care and intention she brings into every treatment.

She has a diverse background in Psychology, Yoga Therapy, and Reiki, along with experience from integrative medicine schools and hospitals in the U.S., Japan, and China. Together, these influences helped Dr. Karina create a practice that honors the deep connection between mind and body.

Rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach, Dr. Karina combines therapies and tailors each treatment to the individual. She works with both children and adults, supporting everything from acute concerns to chronic illness always with the goal of helping the body return to a state of balance, harmony, and wholeness.

At the heart of her practice is a genuine dedication to her patients. She brings both skill and care to her work, creating personalized wellness plans that support her patients on all levels.

Current Practice

Dr. Karina Menali has a private practices both in Los Angeles, CA and Santa Fe, NM.

She is Faculty and Clinical Supervisor at Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Master’s program at Yo San University in Los Angeles, CA.

Past Work

Faculty and clinical training staff at Emperor’s College of Oriental Medicine in Santa Monica, CA

Acupuncturist at the Simms-Mann Health and Wellness Center at Venice Family Clinic in Santa Monica, CA

Acupuncturist at the Integrative Medicine Center at the Roy and Patricia Disney Family Cancer Center in Burbank, CA

Acupuncturist at Being Alive in West Hollywood, CA – a non-profit organization that provides integrative health and wellness services to people living with HIV/AIDS.

She also co-founded and helped run a Japan-based study-abroad program for acupuncturists.

Before opening her private practice, Dr. Karina taught yoga and wellness classes at Dana Hall School in Wellesley, Massachusetts, and at private yoga studios. She studied and interned in counseling psychology, and worked extensively with psychiatric patients at Lifeworks, Inc., a non-profit providing various supportive and counseling services to individuals with dual diagnoses of mental health and cognitive impairment. She periodically gives workshops on various topics in health and wellness and offers retreats.

Fully committed to her personal development, Dr. Karina engages in daily self-cultivation practices and regularly attends seminars and conferences.

Licenses and Degrees:

Licensed Acupuncturist (L.Ac.) 

CA – Lic# 17182

Licensed Doctor of Oriental Medicine (DOM)

NM – Lic# 1292

Diplomate of Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM)

Dipl. OM# 843118

Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine (DACM) from Pacific College of Health Sciences San Diego, CA

Externship Shenyang Hospital and Beijing Hospital, China

Externship Meiji University, Kyoto, Japan

Certificate Studies:

• Functional Blood Analysis 
• Functional Endocrinology 
• Functional Medicine
• Earth Based Healing 
• Lyon Rubin Shame Healing Method
• Essential Oil Therapy 
• Aroma Acupoint Therapy 
• Microneedling 
• Motivational Interviewing 
• Jungian Studies 
• Reiki Master 
• Advanced Esoteric Acupuncture 
• Classical Five Element Acupuncture
• Japanese Acupuncture
• Yoga Therapy (CIAYT)
• Experienced Yoga Teacher (E-RYT500)
• Ordained Minister
• Somatic Parts Work – Embody Lab